Car-coupling



(NoModeL) P. W. PARSONS.

GAR'GOUPLING. No. 385,000 Patented June 26, 1888.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS V. PARSONS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,000, dated June 26, 1888.

Application filed Jannai ylil, 1888. Serial No. 261.293. (No model.)

1 0 all whom it may concern.-

t as few parts as possible, which parts may be cheaply and conveniently cast, which shall be automatic and positivcin its operation of coupling and uncoupling, and which shall be adapted for coupling with an ordinary companion link-and-pin coupling and with what is known as the Janney coupler or other couplers of this class.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of a couplerconstructed inaccordance with my invention,

the coupling-jaw being shown in a locked position. Fig. 2 is a plan; Fig.3, a plan of the lower bearing of the pivoted coupling-jaw; Fig. 4, a plan of the lower end of the coup ling-jaw; Fig. 5, a section on the line zrx of Fig. 2.

Like letters ofu'efercnce indicate like parts in all the figures. a

A represents the draw-head, which is formed with the usual coupling chamber, A, the fixed projecting arm A. at one side, and the vertically-opposite arms or lugs A. at the opposite side, whichlugs are centrally perforated for the passage therethrough of the bolt B, upon which is swiveled the pivotal and swinging coupling-jaw B, which is likewise perforated for the reception of said bolt.

The jaw B is of an L shape, and consists of the forward arm, B", perforated, as at B, for the reception of an ordinarylink and pin, and the rear arm,B,having theshoulderBiadapted to take into a corresponding recess, A, formed in the draw-head,and with a cutaway or chamfered portion, B, at its end.

The lower one of the lugs A? is formed with a recess in its upper face, in which is seateda correspondingly shaped plate, 0, centrally perforated, as at O, for the passage therethrough of the pin B, and provided with a series of concentric inclined ways, 0 in this instance three in number.

The pivotal jaw B is of a width less than the space between the two lugs or cars A of the d raw-head, to which itis pivoted, and as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, is formed with ase ries of 'depending lugs, 13, corresponding in number with the inclined concentric ways 0 of the plate 0, the lugs and inclined ways heing placed in such relative position and so proportioned that when the pivotal jaw is in a locked position the lugs B thereof will be resting upon the ways at or about their highest poi ut.

The means which I employ for automatically locking the jaw in position are both simple and effective, and in this instance they consist of a gravity latch or lever, D, which is pivoted at its rear end to a shaft, D, passing through the draw-head and curved at its front end to one side and in the path of the arm B t of the pivotal jaw B. formed with a depending ehamfered lug, D",

portion of the lug D rides when said jaw is being swung to the rear for coupling.

If desired, thelugs B may be formed upon a plate and set in a recess formed in the jaw B, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.5, which plate, like the plate 0, may be replaced by new ones when occasion may require or by reason of wear.

The operation of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing description, and

may be briefly stated as follows: The pivotal will have passed entirelyover the arm B and The gravity-lever D is 80 against which the chamfered portion B' ofthe arm B comes, and over which the ehamferedl ICE retain the same in a locked position, said arm resting against the vertical face of the lug D When in this position, the two heads will be coupled. It will be noticed that as the jaw B swings to the rear it will, by reason of the inclined concentric ways Gabe carried upwardly. Now, to uncouple the heads, any desired means may be employed; but in this instance I have shown a chain, D which may lead to the platform or other portion of the car, and extends through an opening formed for that purpose in the top of the draw-head. By lifting upon this chain the gravitylever D is elevated until its lug D is withdrawn from in front of the arm D, when, by reason of the inclined ways 0: andthe lugs B, said lugs will be caused to ride down said inclined ways, and thus the weight of the pivotal lever serves to automatically uncouple itself with the jaw of a com.- panion coupler.

Having described my invention and its op eration, what I claim is 1. In a car-coupler of the class described,

the combination of a pivotal jaw with an in-- clined concentric removable bearingplate for said jaw, substantially as specified.

2. In a carcoupler of the class described, a drawhcad having a pivotal jaw, in combination with a removable bearing-plate for said aw, comprising inclined concentric ways, substantially as specified.

3. In a car-coupler of the class described, a draw-head having a pivotal jaw having inclined lugs, in combination with a bearingplate set in a recess in said head and formed with a series of inclined concentric ways for said lugs, substantially as specified.

4. In a canconpler of the class described, the combination of a pivotal jaw having lugs, and abearing for said jaw comprisinginclined concentric ways, with a gravity-lever pivoted to swing vertieallyin rear ofsaidjaw and adapted to lock the same, substantially as specified.

5. The head A, having recess A", the jaw B,

formed with the cut-away portion B, and lug B in combination with the gravity-lever D, pivoted, as at D, and having the chamfered lug D, substantially as specified.

- 6. The combination of the head A, having the lugs A the plate 0, seated therein and having the perforations O, and inclined ways 0 in combination with the jaw 13, the bolt B, and the lugs B substantially as specified.

In testimony whereofl affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS XV. PARSONS.

\Vitnesscs:

L. 0. Hum, XV. S. DUVALL. 

